1. a book with a flexible paper cover rather than a hard binding

1. having a flexible paper cover rather than a hard binding

Examples

• I prefer to buy softcover books because they’re lighter to carry.
• The novel was first published in hardcover, then released as a softcover edition.
• She packed several softcover novels for her vacation reading.
• The softcover version costs half the price of the hardbound edition.
• Most textbooks are now available in both hardcover and softcover formats.
• The bookstore had a large selection of softcover mysteries.